Dulles, Virginia -- Orbital ATK, a global leader in aerospace and defense technologies, announced today that the company was awarded a $16 million contract with options for the first phase of development for the 120mm Advanced Multi-Purpose (AMP), XM1147 High Explosive Multi-Purpose with Tracer cartridge. This new tank ammunition will provide Abrams Main Battle Tank crews a multi-purpose round that replaces four existing rounds, giving greater mission flexibility and main-gun capability through a single munition for multiple engagement scenarios.

“Our ammunition innovations like advanced kinetic energy penetrators and airbursting munitions are providing combat overmatch for our warfighters – which is our company’s mission,” said Dan Olson, Vice President and General Manager for Orbital ATK’s Armament Systems division of the Defense Systems Group. “Our ability to innovate comes from a long history of creating new capabilities for existing systems through our expertise in fuzing, warheads and platform integration.”

Earlier this year, Orbital ATK and the U.S. Army completed qualification for the M829E4, creating the Army's fifth generation, 120mm kinetic energy round that features a penetrator capable of defeating all modern armor protection suites as well as future armor protection concepts.

Orbital ATK has successfully type-classified 11 of the 13 current 120mm tactical and training rounds for the Abrams tank during more than 30 years of experience partnering with the U.S. Army to provide the warfighter with advanced ammunition types.

Since 1980, Orbital ATK has delivered more than 4 million rounds of 120mm tactical

and training tank ammunition to the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, and allied militaries. Through its proven, system-level contracting approach that reduces risk to the customer, Orbital ATK has delivered a constant supply of consistently reliable and affordable 120mm ammunition.